Northeastern Huskies blood drive today
Nov. 2, 2009
Boston, Mass.

Northeastern Athletics will be holding a blood drive on Monday, Nov. 2 at the Curry Student Center Ballroom from 12 to 7 p.m., as part of the eighth annual Colonial Athletic Association Blood Challenge.

To donate blood, please contact Taryn Provencher at huskyblooddrive@gmail.com.

As the number of H1N1 flu cases grow, there may be a notable decrease in the number of healthy blood donors available to help sustain the blood supply. All blood types are currently needed, especially Type O negative which can be used for all patients in need. Helping to save a life can be legendary and Texas Roadhouse wants to thank you with their legendary food, legendary service. This November, all presenting donors will receive a coupon for a free Baby Blossom appetizer from Texas Roadhouse.

The challenge, which began with William & Mary on Sept. 8, has a goal of continuing its streak of record-setting campaigns. The 2008 event resulted in 3,472 actual donors and 3,632 productive units of blood from the 12 CAA campuses, which represented a three percent increase over the 2007 totals and more than three times the amount collected during the inaugural blood challenge in 2002. Over the past seven years, the CAA Blood Challenge has raised a total of 17,728 units of blood, which has helped to save 53,184 lives.

"The success of the CAA Blood Challenge is a source of pride for the conference and its member institutions,” CAA Commissioner Tom Yeager said. “To have collected over 17,000 units of blood during the past seven years is an incredible accomplishment. The event grows each year and we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and participation on each of our campuses. I applaud the institutions for undertaking this life-saving project.”

Each CAA institution designates one day during the Fall to conduct a campus-wide blood drive. With the assistance of local blood service centers, a count is kept of all people who donate blood on that day. Based on those numbers, the CAA determines a winner and presents a trophy to that institution.

Drexel University has been the winner of the CAA Blood Challenge for the past three years. Drexel had 826 actual donors in 2008, which resulted in 822 productive units of blood collected. All 12 CAA institutions had at least 85 donors participate in the program and six collected more than 250 units of blood. Along with Drexel, four-time Blood Challenge champion Delaware had 604 donors, Georgia State had 367 donors and VCU had 355 donors.

The CAA Blood Challenge was developed in 2002 by the league presidents as a fun way to emphasize the critical importance of donating blood. Each institution promotes the event on campus and encourages student groups, faculty, staff and alumni to participate and support their school.

For more information, visit newenglandblood.org.